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Do you feel like a lonely blue unicorn roaming the red Texas prairie in solitary splendor, alone in your freaky progressive viewpoints?

Are you outraged by cowardly Texas elected officials who refuse to schedule town halls to listen to the views of their constituents and who casually pass laws that roll back women’s rights?

Disgusted by neighbors who see no contradiction betweeen worshiping Jesus on Sunday and deporting Muslims on Monday, building a wall to keep the Mexicans out on Tuesday, and denying gay couples civil rights on Wednesday?

Flumoxed that we can’t everyone can’t at least agree that we should have clean air and water and protect the environment for the next generation?

Seriously, are you on drugs? What difference can you–‘lil ol YOU–possibly make as a progressive in Texas the buckle of the Bible Belt? Why not just stay home watching Rachel and punching yourself in the head? It’s cheaper. And faster.

I’ll tell you why. Because if you’ve read this far, you know you have to do SOMETHING. And you know that freedom fighters don’t always win, but they’re on the right side of history.

So here’s the deal: you have two choices. You can bitch and moan and whine and share articles on Facebook that annoy your family for the next four years, or you can crawl out from under the bed and get to work in the way that you can, when you can.

Because as Molly Ivins said, freedom fighters don’t always win, but they’re always on the right side of history.

If you don’t like what you’re seeing in your community and your country, the path to change begins with fighting hard in the 2018 mid-term elections to identify and engage new voters and get new candidates chosen and elected. Though many people are frustrated with the Democratic party and improvements are needed, it remains the only real opposition to defeating the current presidential administration.

Here are three concrete things you can do that can make a real difference in the next four years:

Sign up to be a Volunteer Deputy Registar

Volunteer deputy registrars assist with the responsibility of officially registering voters in the State of Texas. They administer voter registration applications and make sure that citizens complete the applications correctly so there is no delay in processing. Learn more here for the entire state of Texas here, or check out

If you want to impact political change, there’s no better first step to take than becoming a Precint Chair. Texas counties are divided into individual precincts, and a precinct is the smallest political subdivision. The Precinct Chair serves as the contact person for their respective party in their precinct, works to increase the number of voters in their neighborhood at at the grass-roots level, and represents their precinct on the County Executive Committee. Learn more here.

3. Take Action at Your Fingertips

Protest comes in many forms. It doesn’t have to just take place in the streets. And while liking pages on Facebook and retweeting messages won’t impact change–but calling your elected officials can.

Since the election, a number of progressive websites and groups have sprung up since the election promising actionable advice. One of the best is Five Calls, which lists issues, phone numbers and scripts you can use to call your representatives regularly.

Though the site is easy to navigate, unfortunately many callers to their elected officials report that lines are often busy and voice mailboxes full. According to 5 Calls co-founder Neil O’Neill, more than 360,000 calls have already been logged through the platform. And while unfortunately many citizens who try to call their elected officials unfortunately report that lines are often busy and voice mailboxes full, calling is an excellent way to kickstart your activism–and its impact is being felt in Washington.

Don’t know who your Texas representatives are? No worries. Just type your address in to find them here–and add them to your speed dial!

How do you overcome a heartbreak that you’re not sure you can survive?

That was the question facing Jo Ann Brumit, mother and CEO, when her life was forever changed by the unexpected death of her daughter.

Written by Lindsey Townsend, this memoir feels like a heart-to-heart conversation with a dear friend, offering practical, empathetic advice on how to face a wide variety of challenging life situations with hope, courage, and persistence.

Children’s Books

A portion of the proceeds from every Letting Go children’s book sold are donated to help children’s charities and children in crisis.

I can think of no better way to while away a Sunday than with a good friend, in-depth conversation, and an amazing glass of wine. Unless, of course, that lazy afternoon also comes with a free wine education.

The best place in town for that right now is Sixty Vines, where you’ll find a relaxed, upscale atmosphere, wine on tap, and a lighter, healthier menu that’s reminiscent of the ambiance in Napa Valley or Sonoma.

While typical fare in Dallas trends towards beef, barbecue, and Tex-Mex, Sixty Vines focuses on fresh produce and simple preparations, perfect for a lighter lunch or brunch, or a (mostly) guilt-free dinner.

Then, of course, there’s the wine. “We’re all about making wine accessible, both in terms of trying new things and intereracting with a knowledgeable staff that is passionate, patient, and not at all pretentious,” says Aaron Benson, beverage manager.

Sixty Vines offers an extensive list of wines available by glass or bottle, including several that can help visitors explore classic wine regions, such as Rioja or Bordeaux, at reasonable prices. The restaurant takes their commitment to wine education so seriously that they have partnered with the Court of Master Sommeliers to thoroughly educate the staff.

Our personable and efficient server, Shaina, is a Certified Sommelier who asked us about our preferences and then presented us with a flight of custom selections that were the perfect pour for our palates. We left with a newfound appreciation for pinot grigio and a couple of ideas for great bottles to enjoy in the future. “We want to be the first place people go to make new wine discoveries,” Benson adds. Mission accomplished.

You can juice to clean the inside, Botox to plump up the outside, and insist your grandkids call you “Gla-Ma.” But you cannot escape becoming a Grandma or Grandpa. Thirteen signs that it’s already happening:

-You understand why grandmas like to bring a sweater with them wherever they go, “just in case.”

-You would prefer to eat at the restaurant early, to “beat the crowd.”

-You don’t even consider going out on New Year’s Eve.

-Doctors, dentists, and pilots look alarmingly young.

-You wake up at 6 a.m. without an alarm clock.

-When you receive a Christmas card from a friend, your first thought is, “My God, those kids got old.”

-You’ve considered writing an angry letter to the publishers of any magazine lecturing them on readable font size.

-You know what a font is.

-You tell your family that you don’t need anything for Christmas, and you really mean it.

-You can sing the entire Brady Bunch theme song, but can’t remember what you had for lunch yesterday or why you just walked into the bathroom.

-You don’t know who the celebrities are in People magazine anymore, and what’s more, you don’t care.

-You tell random kids that you see outside in the winter to put a coat on.

And the No. 1 sign that you might be a grandma:

-You’re really looking forward to your next cortisone injection. Because that doctor is SO NICE!

20 years ago today, I woke up scared to death that I was getting married. So scared that when the busboy wandered by and asked me if I would like a drink while I was getting dressed, I thought for a minute, then replied, “Why, I believe I would.”

Two drinks later on one empty stomach, I did not float down the aisle like a beautiful, elegant bride as much as I staggered and drifted, stopped abruptly at the altar and said, “Oh, it’s you!” As a good friend of mine who attended my wedding kindly pointed out, “You were a drunk.”

You might say I entered into marriage without a clue of what being in a successful relationship required. You would be right.

That was in 1994. Two decades later, I am still learning.

In the past 21 years (20 married and one dating), I have learned a few things about marriage and what it takes to make a relationship work. Some of them took me years to figure out, and some I’m still working on. Clearly, this is a class that I will never graduate from. But I’ve learned a few shortcuts to passing the class that I’m willing to share:

You will never agree on everything. Learn to say, “You could be right.”

The only person you will be 100% compatible with all the time is yourself. Give each other space to do the things you enjoy.

Don’t make him go shopping with you. Go with a friend. You’ll both have more fun.

When your spouse wants to gripe about work, remember to listen. Or act like you’re listening.

Pay off your credit cards every month, even when it leaves you broke. You’ll be glad later.

There are times when you will be your absolute worst self with your spouse. Remember that, and allow them the space to be the same.

On the other hand, also do your best to remember your manners and show respect for each other. Sometimes this can only be accomplished by pretending your spouse is a stranger you have just met.

If you are going to fight about how he drives too fast every single time you head for the mountains, either get a Xanax prescription beforehand, or consider separate vacations.

Remember that inside every man is a 14-year-old boy afraid of rejection, and be as kind as possible. In fact, be as kind as possible, all the time.

When you need something, whether it’s a back rub, a hug, or to be left alone for the night, say it. Your spouse is not a mindreader.

Always keep in mind that you both play for the same team.

Try very, very hard NOT to roll your eyes when he starts telling the same story you’ve heard 100 times to a group of friends.

Consider carefully what you have built in your own backyard before you decide that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.

Never underestimate the importance of feeling safe with someone.

Show up for them when they lose someone they cannot live without (this is also a good rule for friends).

This one is so important that I’m making it Nos. 16-20: Learn to laugh. At yourself, at the crazy things that happen, the messes, frustrations and disappointments, the little annoyances and the giant failures, the petty grievances you both share and argue about. If you can laugh together, you can stay together.

William Blake once wrote, “We are here to learn to endure the beams of love.” In the past 21 years, I think I have finally learned a little bit about learning to do just that. As my favorite Buddhist used to say, “May it be so.”